- Interview with PSSH chairman FATOS NANO, given from Bënçë prison, Tepelenë, to BBC Radio - Question: Mr. Nano, how do you comment on the presidential decree that reduces your sentence by 2 years? Answer: The president’s decree concerning me was not unexpected; as my wife also said in the mass media, it is late in this matter. It was certainly issued under pressure from domestic public opinion and international organizations, which have put forward their objec-tions regarding the handling of the “Nano Case.” Certainly, it solves nothing, except that it forms part of Berisha and his regime’s political maneuver to shift some of the responsibility away from himself. In essence, this decree concerning me formalizes that perverse logic that was used: sentencing Fatos Nano to the maximum possible term, which also allows for such laughable reductions. I ask the public not to be misled by this matter and not to forget that Fatos Nano is still imprisoned—not only through physical punishment and deprivation of liberty, but also through the other fact that it gives Berisha the opportunity to maneuver even further, with 750 million lekë to be paid fictitiously. Question: And how much time do you have left of your sentence? Answer: To be honest, I haven’t worked out that calculation, nor do I intend to. To answer briefly, I have about a year left to remain in prison, until the next elections. Question: How do you think, who would gain and who would lose from your release? Answer: I think the losses would be personal, mainly for those who fabricated and artificially kept this case alive. The victory, meanwhile, would belong to everyone. It would be a political victory, a legal victory that would give justice the opportunity to correct not only the other bad image it created through this case, but above all it would be a social victory that would create great opportunities for tolerance, understanding and cooperation among the Albanians during this difficult period. Question: Did the Socialist Party gain or suffer damage from your conviction? Answer: It is difficult to make a definitive judgment on this matter. Certainly, politically, my comrades and I managed to turn it into an issue of political commitment, an issue that crystallized the opposition’s political will to normalize the political situation in Albania. Fortunately, it has not turned into, and I hope it will never turn into, a matter of revenge. But a concrete struggle to free Albanian democracy from the fever of political revenge, and certainly to get citizens from the opposition out of prison, has increased its reputation. Question: You are credited with having managed to keep around the Socialist Party people with distant political views and sympathies—Enverists, nostalgics, communists, dogmatists, pure socialists and Euro-socialists. What can you say about this? Answer: I think that this issue persists because of the lack of political culture we have inherited from the past, but also because of the creation of temporary electoral advantages through speculation. I would approach it from the perspec-— (Continued on page 5)

- Interview with Sudein Stankaj, chairman of the Shkodër Socialist Party District Council - The painful events of April 2 in the city of Shkodra mark their fourth anniversary today. What is your judgment of that day, which brought Shkodra such horror and grief with the killing of four citizens, martyrs of democracy? Yes, that is so. Four years ago, just two days after the first pluralist elections, Shkodra experienced difficult moments, accompanied by pain, blood and tears, terror and panic, fires and destruction, hatred and violence, anxiety and treachery. On that unforgettable day, it lost four of its sons, who laid down their lives, blood and youth on the altar of fragile democracy. Therefore, first and foremost, gratitude and honor are due to the martyrs of democracy, Arben Broci, Bujar Besrhanaku, Besnik Ceka and Nazmi Kryeziu. What would my judgment of that day be? I do not think it is easy, even today, four years later, to judge what happened on 2 April 1991, since those events have a particular historical and political background from which it would be wrong to detach them. For some, it may be easy—without being a historian, journalist or poet—to fill newspaper pages, affirming and denying whatever they please. It may be easy, without the slightest responsibility, to politicize and radicalize the event, to anathematize people and unleash boundless hatred. As a Shkodran, I am sincerely sorry that this is happening. What we all need is for the truth to be brought to light, because Shkodra and its people know that it has still not come out. So, returning to our well-known position, which we have stated for a long time, I say that April 2 calls for a high level of legal awareness and genuine professionalism, for the desire and commitment to pick up the thread of the truth and to answer, without political passions, the many questions that remain in the courtrooms. Even today, after four years, the event seems to have remained trapped in a vicious circle, doesn’t it...? It seems to me that the painful events of April 2 continue to be exploited mostly for political gain. A careful observer may have noticed that “the barometer” of this event has tracked the ups and downs of the political struggle in the country, and during “storms” there have been no shortage of attacks colored by extreme politicization and prejudice. The party in power is experiencing a real storm these days as well, so we see that “the barometer” is registering “pressure,” accompanied by attacks that, I would say, have already been used up. I don’t think I’m going too far in saying that the time has come to say: enough speculation! The troubled spirits of the family members who have lost their sons, as well as of honest people, are not at peace. They want the whole truth, not a distorted one—the truth that reaches from the organizers all the way to the real, not supposed, killers. As a councillor on the District Council, you have also commented on the proposals made regarding decorations for the fourth anniversary of this event. Could you be more specific? It is good, in efforts of this kind, aimed at strengthening unity and reducing artificial tensions, to organize commemorative activities with broad popular participation. It is regrettable that at all the commemorations held for this occasion, people have, not without intent, tried to forget us. The organizers know well why this is being done, but I cannot fail to mention here what I also emphasized at the first meeting of the di- (Continued on page 5)

- Meeting of Dr. Servet Pëllumbi in Përmet - In Përmet, poverty is palpable even if you do not know that 52 percent of the working-age population is unemployed, and

- Meeting of Dr. Servet Pëllumbi in Piemont - In Piemont, 52 percent of the working-age population is unemployed, and that the village, despite some small-scale production, seems distant and isolated because it cannot find its way to the market. This situation seems to push it even more to seek support and put its trust in the Socialist Party. These three years since March 22, the deputy chairman of the PSSH, Dr. Servet Pëllumbi, told the Socialists, sympathizers and many citizens, have shown that the Socialist Party knew how to position itself as an opposition party and now to strive to come to power. It has proven itself to be an emancipated political party with a democratic spirit; it has delivered and continues to deliver messages of cooperation of particular importance to the country; it has shown itself to be a force in the total defense of democratic institutions; it has tirelessly fought for and defended human rights and freedoms; it has demonstrated its commitment to the progressive development of democracy and failed? [?] to be the most consolidated political force, with a contemporary program whose development it undertakes step by step. Parliament has passed 373 laws, but how many of them has the SP abstained from or voted against? Five or six. Is that destructive or constructive? Where is the destabilization in this position? With loyalty, understanding, cooperation? We have also viewed the struggle for the Constitution as a way to enshrine the historic changes that have begun in the country. (Continued on page 5)

Ilir Meta In recent days, PSSH deputy chairman Ilir Meta, MP Mago Lakrori, and the leaders of the Eurosocialist Forum, Alfred Trebicka and Monika Kryemadhi, have held a series of meetings in various villages in the Korçë district, such as Pirg, Dvoran, Vithkuq, etc. Their meetings were received with considerable interest, and the discussion focused on the difficult and bleak situation of our rural population. In Dvoran, once a famous state agricultural enterprise for its produce, everything has now fallen to zero. The land has still not been divided; the boundaries with neighboring villages have not even been set. At the same time, problems have arisen between residents who came down from the mountainous areas and the local inhabitants. In his speech, Ilir Meta pointed out that the Socialist Party is aware of the problems and difficulties facing the peasantry and has long expressed its objections concerning their practical resolution. On Friday afternoon, in the vil- (Continued on page 2)

The “Arsidi Trial” resumes and is adjourned ARSIDI STILL DOES NOT ANSWER - Prosecutor GJokutaj reacts angrily to the absence of lawyer Sanxhaku. A shock from Madrid. Why? The high-profile “Arsidi” trial resumed yesterday amid the tense situation at the Tirana Court. Given the events of the previous day—the resignation of three senior officials of the Tirana Court, including the judge presiding over today’s case, Mr. Andi Çeliku—the delay of more than 30 minutes in starting yesterday’s session was understandable. Although the session had been scheduled since last weekend simply to make contact and find out about the news and the response regarding Arsidi’s appearance at the Tirana trial, at the start of the session everything turned into an attack on Mr. Përparim Sanxhaku, the lawyer for Mr. Agron Saliu, who was absent. The judge asked Mr. Saliu to explain the absence, and it was clarified that Sanxhaku had met with Mr. Saliu on Monday and had told him about the possibility of a trip to Spain. After this, Mr. Çeliku said that he had made the necessary inquiries with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs so that our Embassy in Paris could notify, through the French Ministry of Justice, Nikola Arsidi, Loron Simon, and Bernardino Piacoli to appear before the Tirana Court as witnesses. He also said that he had received a fax from the second secretary of our Embassy in Paris, Mr. Stefan Hxhemalce, who reported that our Embassy had sent a Note to the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs together with the summonses for the people requested by the Tirana Court to appear as witnesses. Therefore, Çeliku said, we still have no positive or negative response about Arsidi’s appearance in the trial. After this briefing, Mr. Çeliku asked the prosecutors for their opinion on how to proceed with the hearing. At this point, the attack on Mr. Sanxhaku began again. Prosecutor GJokutaj said that

Elbasan COURT PRESIDENT DISMISSED Reports from the Elbasan Court state that the president of this court, Mr. Adem Klari, has been dismissed from his post. The dismissal had been rumored for several weeks, following an inspection carried out by the Ministry of Justice. Apparently, it was the latest meeting of the High Council of Justice that decided to dismiss Mr. Klari. According to the source, the publication of this dismissal on M. M. concerns the failure to implement another candidacy to replace the court president. Correspondent of “Zëri i popullit”

Sarandë Explosion at the home of the chairman of the district council An explosive device placed in the home of Mr. Vasil Çako, chairman of the Sarandë district council, exploded at midnight on March 30–31. A representative of the district police station, called to a meeting between political forces at the Municipality, explained that it was only by chance that there were no victims in the powerful explosion, which almost destroyed everything inside the house. He is quoted as saying that the law-enforcement authorities and criminal police are pursuing the perpetrators of the crime. It is a bitter recent experience for the citizens of Sarandë, who have been living in fear of explosives being detonated in homes, burglaries, and so on. And when the state takes no measures to protect its own officials, citizens have the right to feel afraid and to have no confidence in its strength. The incident the day before yesterday was a clearly terrorist act, deserving of condemnation; it was an act by the new bosses who, when they cannot achieve their aims by other means, use terror to operate freely and violate every law. Nevertheless, let us wait for the results of the investigation. THANAS DINO

Vlorë HUNGER STRIKE BY CENTRAL MARKET WORKERS Yesterday at 7 in the morning, 15 workers at the market [unclear text] began a hunger strike. They were protesting the abusive actions of local officials. The market building, which belongs to the municipality, was unjustly leased out, and they have worked for 10 years to remain there, to be converted into the property of the former [?] [unclear text] political weight. The workers have locked the market door with a chain and barricaded themselves inside. At its entrance a banner has been put up: “The market is ours. We won’t give up an inch. We’ll either take it back or we’ll all be unemployed.” Hundreds of citizens [unclear text] are gathered around the market, which is surrounded by police. The strikers’ [unclear text] are breaking— (Continued on page 2)

Yesterday morning, dozens of citizens in the town of Laç had gathered near the town’s PTT building. Asking about the reasons for this gathering, we learned that the Tirana Telecommunications Directorate had ordered a 500-number telephone exchange to be taken from Laç and moved to Tirana. This telephone exchange had been brought there about five months earlier to meet the needs of Laç’s citizens. But now everything has been cancelled. The citizens did not allow the exchange to be taken, saying: “So nothing is meant for us. Even this exchange that they brought us, you want to take away.” Meanwhile, many citizens of Laç, around 1,000 people, sent a petition to the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister, the General Directorate of Telecommunications, and the area’s deputy, Alfred Serraj. BEKTASHI ZENELI

Bir Maja: Those who fantasize about a generational war within the ranks of the SP, we tell them that their imagination is taking them much too far; we Socialists are united by the democratic ideals of the European left, not by privatization boards.

Counterfeit banknotes are flooding in Counterfeit banknotes have also appeared in Elbasan in recent days. An employee of the State Bank branch confirms that these banknotes are in denominations of 500 and 1,000 lek, and have even been carefully made to resemble those issued in recent years, including in 1992. The bank employee also gives some serial numbers of these banknotes: [illegible text] Villages cut off The telephone network no longer works in all the villages of the Mollas commune in the Elbasan district. In other villages, such as Topojan, Dragot, and Kamun, communication with the commune health center has also been cut off, as the roads have been destroyed. Because of the lack of an ambulance, there have been cases of people dying while the sick were being transported on animals, a problem that commune officials are unable to address. School surrounded by water For more than two years, the drainage system in the village of Shtubik i Ri (former NB Suth) has not been working. As a result, the neighborhoods of this village live under the threat of flooding. Moreover, these [illegible text] [unclear text] of the village’s eight-year school are forced to stay outside the school whenever there is heavy rain; the period of rainfall is quite long.

to grasp the thread of the truth and provide answers, without passion or political bias, to many of the questions that remain— (Continued on page 5)